The Kalamazoo Humane Society will be taking the Pet Food Bank to the Mothers Of Hope Ultimate Family Reunion and we need your help to make the biggest impact!

For the second year, KHS will be attending the Mothers of Hope Ultimate Family Reunion at LaCrone Park in Kalamazoo’s Northside neighborhood on Saturday, August 5th. We knew this event was important for our community, but I didn’t realize just how important until I was there.

The Ultimate Family Reunion had organizations and businesses from all over Kalamazoo helping those in our community that need it most. There were free haircuts for kids, school bags and school supplies to be handed out and a lot of information about services for families who are struggling. It was a very positive environment with entertainment, food and activities.

Not knowing what to expect, I brought all of our leftover Dog Walk t-shirts from previous years, pencils and information about our Pet Food Bank and Operation Fix-It. We had a few hundred t-shirts to give away and I couldn’t believe we ran out before the event was half over.

In the crowd were a lot of homeless citizens who were happy for a new clean shirt to wear. I remember when we were down to the last shirt, a small boy who couldn’t have been more than 8-10 years old asked me if he could have a shirt. The only shirt I had left as an Adult 2X so I told him it was too big, and that I was out of kid shirts. He looked at me, and the shirt I was holding up, and said that he would still wear it, and that he could tuck it in. I knew then that he neededthis shirt, even if it was going to be way too big. I handed it to him, and he thanked me with excellent manners.

There were so many kids at this event with their families that all needed things. Things for school, things to wear, things to eat, things to do, things for their pets. When I was driving away, I saw a family who had just left the event walking down the street, all wearing new KHS Dog Walk t-shirts. Having two young boys of my own I was deeply effected by the kids I met at this event and the need of the people who came to the Ultimate Family Reunion.

For 2017, to be able to offer even more help, we’re planning to bring our Pet Food Bank so that we can distribute food for pets while we’re there. We’ll be taking sign-ups for the food bank program on-site and helping as many as we can while supplies last. Based on my experience last year, I know we’ll be giving out a lot of pet food and supplies to people who truly need a helping hand.

This is where we need your help! Anyone who has pet items, or who can donate pet food, cat litter and pet supplies is strongly encouraged to bring items to our office by Thursday, August 3rd. I’ll be loading up the KHS van on Friday to get ready for the event on Saturday.

Any items in new or used and good condition will be accepted, especially leashes, collars, harnesses, brushes, nail clippers or other basic pet supplies for cats and dogs. Donations of small bags of food (5-7 lb bags work great), cat litter, canned food or treats would also be appreciated.

These donations will be driven directly to LaCrone Park on Saturday, August 5th, to help some of the most impoverished pet owners in Kalamazoo. Thank you for your help!

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Kalamazoo Humane Society Receives More Than $30,000 from PetSmart Charities® to fund Fix-A-Pit program

Local pet parents can get their Pit Bull and Pit Bull mixes spayed or neutered for $20

KALAMAZOO, MI (February 21, 2017) – Pit bull terriers end up in shelters in large numbers due to myths and misperceptions, which impact public opinions of the breed and reduce the adoption rates of these dogs in local animal shelters.

That’s why the Kalamazoo Humane Society, with funding support from PetSmart Charities, the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, is offering the Fix-A-Pit program. Thanks to a generous grant for more than $30,000 from PetSmart Charities, the Kalamazoo Humane Society will provide a special $20 spay/neuter surgery and free nail trim for pit bull terriers and pit bull terrier mixes throughout 2017.

“Spaying/neutering a pet is the most effective thing a pet parent can do to prevent unwanted litters from being born that will ultimately end up in local shelters,” says Aaron Winters, Executive Director of the Kalamazoo Humane Society.

Some pet parents may be hesitant to get their young puppies sterilized. But the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) endorses spaying and neutering puppies as young as eight to 10 weeks old. Research also shows that the procedure may improve the behavior and health of the pet, including reducing the risk of certain reproductive cancers and infections.

“At PetSmart Charities, we are committed to ending pet homelessness,” said Kelly Balthazor, regional relationship manager at PetSmart Charities. “By supporting the Kalamazoo Humane Society in their effort to make spay and neuter services more accessible and affordable for all pet parents, we hope to reduce unwanted litters and pet overpopulation and end pet homelessness across the state of Michigan.”

This special $20 rate is even less than the organization’s normal low-cost price and is available to the public. This program is based on availability.

Thanks to the PetSmart Charities grant, the Kalamazoo Humane Society will provide 350 Fix-A-Pit sterilizations for $20 in 2017. Please visit www.kazoohumane.org or call 269-345-1181 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

About the Kalamazoo Humane Society:

Founded in 1897, the Kalamazoo Humane Society is a non-sheltering animal welfare organization that provides pet population control, humane education and emergency response services to pets, pet owners and other animal agencies throughout southwest Michigan. Find out more at http://www.kazoohumane.org, or follow KHS on Facebook.

About PetSmart Charities:

PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization that saves the lives of homeless pets. Each year nearly 500,000 dogs and cats find homes through our adoption program in all PetSmart® stores across the U.S. and sponsored adoption events. Each year millions of PetSmart shoppers contribute to PetSmart Charities to help pets in need by making donations on a pin pad at the register. PetSmart Charities efficiently uses 90 cents of every dollar to support its mission of finding lifelong, loving homes for all pets. PetSmart Charities grants more money to directly help pets in need than any other animal welfare group in North America, with a focus on funding adoption and spay/neuter programs that help communities solve pet overpopulation. PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization, independent from PetSmart, Inc. PetSmart Charities has received the Four Star Rating for the past 13 years from Charity Navigator, an independent nonprofit that reports on the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of nonprofits, placing it among the top one percent of charities rated by this organization.

KHS Offices will be closed today (Friday, 9/30/16) from 11AM – 1PM while we get ready for some big changes and updates coming to Operation Fix-It!

Operation Fix-It has altered over 60,000 cats and dogs since it began in 2002, and that’s a big deal! We’re working hard to combat pet overpopulation on the front lines, by preventing future litters of unplanned and unwanted kittens and puppies from flooding local shelters and rescues.

Over the years, we’ve created a streamlined system that has helped us reach that 60,000 but we know we can do even better! That’s why, beginning Monday, October 3, 2016 Operation Fix-It will begin pre-pay registration for both cats and dogs, and we’ll also be able to offer online registration and payments.

If you need to schedule a cat or dog for surgery, you’ll need to have your surgery fee up-front to get on the schedule. Your pre-payment will reserve your appointment day, and will hopefully reduce the number of no-shows and cancellations we receive.

A high rate of cancellations limits the number of surgeries we’re able to do, and wastes an opportunity for an animal to be altered through our program.

To make registration as easy as possible, we’re now offering online registration, which means you can register your pet and pre-pay online with a credit card, and then be contacted by our staff to get you scheduled.

To schedule online, simply go to: www.kazoohumane.org, then click on the the Schedule a Surgery button on our home page.

This new registration process begins on Monday, October 3rd! For those who don’t have internet access we’ll still accept paper application and mailed in payments. Our hope is that this will help those who would prefer to register and pre-pay at the same time via the internet.

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Sponsored by PetSmart Charities® “Precious, Not Parents” campaign offers $20 spay/neuter surgeries for puppies and kittens under 6 months old

Kalamazoo, MI (MAY 18, 2016) – They may be just babies, but kittens as young as 4 months and puppies as young as 5 months are old enough to get pregnant and have their first litter just two months later. “These precious babies shouldn’t be parents at 5 and 6 months old,” says Julie Barber, Community Connections Director for the Kalamazoo Humane Society.

That’s why the Kalamazoo Humane Society, with funding provided by PetSmart Charities, the largest funder of animal welfare efforts in North America, is introducing the “Precious, Not Parents” campaign. Through the “Precious, Not Parents,” campaign, the Kalamazoo Humane Society will provide $20 spay and neuter surgeries for puppies and kittens under six months of age during the month of June.

Some pet parents may worry that their pet is too young for this procedure, but spaying and neutering is safe and easy for kittens and puppies as young as eight to 10 weeks old, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. In fact, the Kalamazoo Humane Society has performed more than 58,000 spay/neuter surgeries since 2012, many of which have been on puppies and kittens.

“Many owners put off the procedure and wait until the puppy or kitten is six to eight months old,” says Barber. “But by then, a litter of puppies or kittens can be born.”

This special $20 rate is even less than the organization’s normal low-cost priced and is available to the public with no residency or income requirements. Pet parents who wish to take advantage of this offer must mention the “Precious, Not Parents” campaign when they call to schedule their appointment. The campaign is based on availability.

the Kalamazoo Humane Society will provide “Precious, Not Parents,” sterilizations for $20 in June, while appointments last. Please visit http://www.kazoohumane.org or call 269-345-1181 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

PetSmart Charities’ “Precious, Not Parents” campaign provides more than $677,339 to spay/neuter clinics to fund affordable, high-quality spay and neuter surgeries for more than 16,864 puppies and kittens across the nation during the month of June.

About the Kalamazoo Humane SocietyFounded in 1897, the Kalamazoo Humane Society provides humane education, pet population control and emergency response services to pets and pet owners throughout Kalamazoo County. Find out more at http://www.kazoohumane.org, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter

About PetSmart Charities®PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization that saves the lives of homeless pets. Each year nearly 500,000 dogs and cats find homes through our adoption program in all PetSmart® stores across the U.S. and sponsored adoption events. Each year millions of PetSmart shoppers contribute to PetSmart Charities to help pets in need by making donations on a pin pad at the register. PetSmart Charities efficiently uses 90 cents of every dollar to support its mission of finding lifelong, loving homes for all pets. PetSmart Charities grants more money to directly help pets in need than any other animal welfare group in North America, with a focus on funding adoption and spay/neuter programs that help communities solve pet overpopulation. PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization, independent from PetSmart, Inc. PetSmart Charities has received the Four Star Rating for the past 13 years from Charity Navigator, an independent nonprofit that reports on the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of nonprofits, placing it among the top one percent of charities rated by this organization

Warmer weather may still be months away, but the Kalamazoo Humane Society wants you to “Beat the Heat” by spaying your cat in advance of her heat cycle and preventing unwanted litters from being born this spring. Animal shelters commonly refer to spring time as “kitten season” because that is when they receive the largest influx of unwanted litters that are difficult to adopt.

That’s why the Kalamazoo Humane Society is offering a special “Beat the Heat” campaign sponsored by PetSmart Charities, the largest funder of animal welfare efforts in North America Through the “Beat the Heat” campaign, the Kalamazoo Humane Society will provide $20 spay surgeries for female cats during the month of February.

Spaying and neutering is one of the most effective ways to reduce the homeless pet population and is safe for kittens as young as eight to 10 weeks old, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Spaying a female cat before the first heat cycle can be beneficial, improving the health of the pet by reducing the risk of certain reproductive cancers and infections.

“Female cats can have as many as three litters a year, and kittens can breed as young as four months old,” says Julie Barber, Director of Community Connections for the Kalamazoo Humane Society. “Most people don’t want to see their cat get pregnant over and over again, so hopefully our “Beat the Heat” campaign will serve as a gentle reminder to cat owners to sterilize their cats before they go into heat this year.”

This special $20 rate is even less than the organization’s normal low-cost price and is available to all residents in southwest Michigan. Cat parents who wish to take advantage of this offer must mention the “Beat the Heat” campaign when they schedule their appointment. This campaign is based on availability.

Thanks to the PetSmart Charities grant, the Kalamazoo Humane Society will provide 400 female cat “Beat the Heat” sterilizations for $20 in February. Please visit http://www.kazoohumane.org or call 269-345-1181 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

PetSmart Charities’ “Beat the Heat” campaign provides more than $616,370 to spay/neuter clinics to fund affordable, high-quality spay and neuter surgeries for more than 19,536 female cats across the nation during the month of February.

About the Kalamazoo Humane Society:

Founded in 1897, the Kalamazoo Humane Society provides humane education, pet population control and emergency response services to pets and pet owners throughout Kalamazoo County. Find out more at http://www.kazoohumane.org, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter

About PetSmart Charities:

PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization that saves the lives of homeless pets. More than 400,000 dogs and cats find homes each year through our adoption program in all PetSmart® stores and our sponsored adoption events. PetSmart Charities grants more money to directly help pets in need than any other animal welfare group in North America, with a focus on funding spay/neuter services that help communities solve pet overpopulation. PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization, separate from PetSmart, Inc.

With shopping, travel and the holidays having an extended Fall season was great! No bad hair days on Christmas morning, no white-knuckled drives to Grandma’s house, and no house-full of guests dragging in snowy boots! All-in-all, this was a fantastic end to a year.

With the New Year came new weather; snow, ice and blustery cold winds. This weather was inevitable, and if you procrastinated in prepping for another Michigan winter, you’ll want to make sure to catch up quickly! Here’s our best tips for getting your home ready for whatever this winter has to bring.

Outdoor Pets

We’d love for every pet to be indoors, safe and warm and cozied up by a fire but there are a number of outdoor pets that for whatever reason aren’t brought inside during bad weather. If you are the owner of an outdoor pet, you need to be aware that you are responsible for providing adequate shelter and provisions to keep your pet healthy during the winter months.

Dogs are required by law to have clean, dry bedding and an area free from feces and debris. Many dog owners will use old blankets or comforters and change or wash them as they become dirty. Many others use straw. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s dry and can be replaced as needed. When snow melts and the area around your dog house gets muddy, your dog will be bringing all that dampness and dirt into his shelter. Keep up on removing any feces build-up, and keep food and water dishes away from areas where your dog will be going to the bathroom.

If you haven’t already done it, take the time to check out the structure of your dog house, rabbit hutch, or other outdoor structure. Does it leak? Can you see daylight from the inside? Does the roof need patching? Your pet will be spending a significant amount of time inside whatever you have provided, and it needs to be in a state of good repair. Write out a list of repairs or updates that need to be made and head over to your local hardware store. Discounted building supplies can often be found at Habitat for Humanity Re-store’s, or even online using Craigslist.

Having a structure isn’t enough. You’ll need to make sure your dog house, hutch or shelter is well protected from the wind, snow and cold. Placing your shelter alongside an existing building that can protect it from some of the elements is helpful, but you might also consider using tarps, plastic sheeting, or wood panels to further block out the wind and snow.

Elevating your shelter is also an effective way to keep out dirt and debris, and hold in heat. If you can get your shelter on a palette or other platform and insulate beneath the shelter, you reduce heat loss and moisture from seeping in.

Peeling paint and faded stains on wood surfaces will speed up the decay of your structure. This is going to be a Spring or indoor project, but make sure you get to it as soon as possible to avoid health hazards to your pet and to extend the life of your shelter.

Your pet can also be bulked up to help withstand winter conditions! Just like humans, animals are made up of mostly water. Making sure your pets nutrition is ideal for building a healthy later of fat and a hair coat that is in good condition will help to retain body heat. Check with your veterinarian about a proper winter diet. Pets will burn an increased number of calories to produce heat and stay warm. You’ll need to make sure the diet your pet is on has enough calories to maintain a healthy body mass.

Even if your shelter is in great shape and your pet is beefy and fluffy, there will be days that are just too cold and dangerous for any domesticated animal to remain outside. In these cases, it’s best to bring your pet inside. If for any reason you cannot bring the pet into the living spaces of your home, try to allow access to the basement, a laundry room, or the garage. There are some pets that cannot withstand a typical Michigan winter, even with a good shelter due to age, health or breed related reasons.

Use your best judgement or the opinion of your veterinarian to determine if your pet can be kept comfortably outdoors. If you’re looking to get a new pet and you have no plans to bring it inside, look closely at your reasons for wanting a pet before adding an animal to that lifestyle. At all times, your decisions need to be made in the best interest of the people and pets in your care. If you need to make sacrifices to your pet in order to keep the people in your home healthy and safe, you may want to consider re-homing your pet where it can receive a higher standard of care.

In the event of severe weather, power outages or evacuations, make sure to have enough pet food on hand to last a week, including water for your pet. You may also want to keep an emergency kit handy that includes supplies for first aid, enough transport carriers for your pets and dry bedding.

One year ago, on Friday, January 9th, 2015, a 193-vehicle crash on I-94 created a hazmat situation that resulted in a police-mandated evacuation of residents in a 3-mile radius of the accident. If you were asked to evacuate your home right now, would you be prepared? Having a “Go-Kit” prepared and a plan of where to go could mean the difference between life and death for your outdoor pet(s).

It is not illegal to have outdoor pets. If you’re seeing an outdoor dog that appears to be without essential shelter, food, or water, contact your local animal services department right away and have them check it out. They will be able to bring the owner up to compliance and offer tips to improve the living conditions of the dog or outdoor pet. Animal welfare professionals cannot remove an animal without cause. If an outdoor pet is in a state of good health and has the minimum required provisions, they will not be able to legally remove the pet or charge the owner with neglect.

If an animal is not moving and does not seem alert, call your local animal authorities right away. Outdoor dogs, cats and rabbits do not hibernate. Aside from sleeping and napping, they should be alert and active throughout the winter months.

Straw can be found at retail stores, farm and garden centers, and local farms. If you need help finding straw, here is a list of places you can try:

As always, the Kalamazoo Humane Society is happy to provide shelter and straw to pets in need. Straw can be picked up free of charge for those that can’t afford to purchase it at our office at 4239 S. Westnedge Ave during our regular open hours. We can also work with owners to get a dog house. If you know of an owner struggling with food, straw or shelter for a pet, please have them call us at 269-345-1181 or visit us on Westnedge.

Kalamazoo, MI (December 15, 2015) – The Kalamazoo Humane Society wants you to ring in the New Year by making a resolution to neuter your male dog or cat during their “Happy Neuter Year” campaign.

Sponsored by PetSmart Charities, the largest funder of animal welfare efforts in North America, the “Happy Neuter Year,” campaign will provide $20 neutering surgeries for male dogs and cats during the month of January.

Spaying and neutering is one of the most effective ways to reduce the homeless pet population and is safe for puppies and kittens as young as eight to 10 weeks old, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

This special $20 rate is even less than the organization’s normal low-cost price and is available to all residents of southwest Michigan. Pet parents who wish to take advantage of this offer must mention the “Happy Neuter Year” campaign when they schedule their appointment. This campaign is based on availability.

The Kalamazoo Humane Society will provide 700 “Happy Neuter Year” sterilizations for $20 in January. Please visit http://www.kazoohumane.org or call 269-345-1181 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

PetSmart Charities’ “Happy Neuter Year” campaign provides more than $733,180 to spay/neuter clinics to fund affordable, high-quality spay and neuter surgeries for more than 20,650 male dogs and cats across the nation during the month of January.

January 2016: “Happy Neuter Year”

Spay or Neuter = $20.00 for male cats and dogs

Scheduling is now open!

You must mention “Happy Neuter Year” in order to get the discounted price!

Dog appointments must be pre-paid and have a Registration Form completed. Cat appointments are available first-come-first-serve and are payable at the time of services.

The Operation Fix-It schedule for December 2015 is now open and ready to book! We have openings for cats and dogs available with no breed or size restrictions (must be at least 2 lbs/8 weeks old).

All surgery appointments are Monday-Thursday; there is no surgery on Friday or weekends. All appointments are subject to availability and may be postponed or canceled due to unforeseen circumstances such as severe weather. If KHS closes due to an emergency, our staff will contact you within 48 hours to reschedule at the phone number provided to us at the time of scheduling.

How to Schedule a Cat Surgery

By Phone: Call us at 269-345-1181 to schedule over the phone
In Person: Stop into our office at 4239 S. Westnedge Ave. to schedule in person

How to Bring in a Feral Cat

*Feral cats must be in a live-trap; no exceptions. Unscheduled socialized cats and/or cats in carriers will be turned away. Appointments are required for all owned, domesticated cats.

Due to the nature of feral cats, we understand that scheduling an appointment is not possible. Feral cats can be brought in Thursday from 7:30-8am without an appointment.

$40.00 will be due at the time of drop-off and includes the Spay/Neuter surgery, a 1 Year Rabies vaccine and an ear-tip. Pick-up time is 4-5pm.

How to Schedule a Dog Surgery

Download the Dog Registration Form – Forms are also available in our office at 4239 S. Westnedge Ave.

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The Operation Fix-It schedule for October 2015 is now open and ready to book! We have openings for cats and dogs available with no breed or size restrictions (must be at least 2 lbs/8 weeks old).

All surgery appointments are Monday-Thursday; there is no surgery on Friday or weekends. All appointments are subject to availability and may be postponed or canceled due to unforeseen circumstances such as severe weather. If KHS closes due to an emergency, our staff will contact you within 48 hours to reschedule at the phone number provided to us at the time of scheduling.

How to Schedule a Cat Surgery

By Phone: Call us at 269-345-1181 to schedule over the phone
In Person: Stop into our office at 4239 S. Westnedge Ave. to schedule in person

How to Bring in a Feral Cat

*Feral cats must be in a live-trap; no exceptions. Unscheduled socialized cats and/or cats in carriers will be turned away. Appointments are required for all owned, domesticated cats.

Due to the nature of feral cats, we understand that scheduling an appointment is not possible. Feral cats can be brought in Thursday from 7:30-8am without an appointment.

$40.00 will be due at the time of drop-off and includes the Spay/Neuter surgery, a 1 Year Rabies vaccine and an ear-tip. Pick-up time is 4-5pm.

How to Schedule a Dog Surgery

Download the Dog Registration Form – Download the Form Here (Open to anyone; no special qualifications). Forms are also available in our office at 4239 S. Westnedge Ave.

Operation Fix-It $80.00 Regular Rate for dogs of any size and gender. All canine surgeries are pre-paid.

By Fax/Phone: Fax the completed form to our office at 269-345-1290 and our staff will call you back to take your credit/debit card payment over the phone and schedule your appointment.

In Person: Complete and turn in a Dog Registration Form and your cash/check/credit/debit payment to our office staff and we can schedule your appointment.